Cardinale 2013 Napa Valley (1,5L)
Cardinale was established in 1982 and went on a mission to produce a unique Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest quality vineyards in Napa Valley. Since 2001, Cardinale has been under the leadership of winemaker Chris Carpenter. He makes one wine for Cardinale every year, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. The mountain grapes are the foundation for the Cardinale blend, especially those from Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain, but also terraced grapes and a small amount of Merlot add layers of complexity to each vintage.
Professional reviews
Robert Parker (96)
A brilliant wine from winemaker Chris Carpenter and the Kendall-Jackson family, this blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot, mostly coming from mountain vineyards owned by the Jackson family, is fabulous. The 2013 Cardinale Proprietary Red Wine is dense purple-colored, a big, sweet kiss of crème de cassis as well as licorice, blackberry and espresso are all present in this full-bodied, rather sublime and intense Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for 25 or more years. This was aged in about 91% new French oak for 18-20 months prior to bottling. It is certainly one of the finest Cardinales I have tasted in my experience
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TASTING NOTES
The Tesseron Estate Pym-Rae is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, this Napa top has a deep garnet purple, revealing fragrant notes of candied violets, wilted roses, moist earth and black tea over a core of red and black currants, black cherries and warm blackberries plus a hint of cigar box and camphor oil. Medium to full bodied with a rock solid structure of fruit on the palate, fine grained tannins beautifully supporting the elegant red and black fruit layers and ending very long and very perfumed.
Professional reviews
Robert Parker (98)
The 2018 Pym-Rae reveals a deep garnet-purple color and a slightly reticent, slowly emerging nose of freshly crushed blackcurrants, ripe blackberries and wild blueberries with suggestions of garrigue, red currant jelly, mossy tree bark and truffles plus wafts of bouquet garni and Sichuan pepper. The palate is full-bodied and fantastically concentrated with tightly wound layers of black and red berry notions, framed by very firm yet beautifully ripe tannins and amazing tension, finishing with epic length and loads of mineral sparks.
James Suckling (97)
his is extremely aromatic with blackberries, black pepper and spice. Dried flowers, too. Full-bodied with very tight, fine tannins and a racy, refined finish. Raspberries and currants at the end. Very fine and polished. The center fruit is so pure. Aged in 60% new wood barrels and 40% concrete.
Jancis Robinson (16.50)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A project run by the Tesseron family of Ch Pontet-Canet. The first vintage to be certified biodynamic.
This is quite airy and fragrant compared with some of the other Napa wines in the line-up, though it still manages notes of kirsch, sweet cherry and Parma violet. The palate is chalky on entry ahead of a plush, rounded fruit core that brings a blend of very ripe red fruit and fresher, but darker, blackberry and blackcurrant. Plump and polished on the finish
Jeb Dunnuck (99)
The 2018 Pym-Rae can be thought of as a hypothetical mix of the 2016 and 2017, with more sexiness and opulence than the 2017 and a touch more elegance and precision than the 2016. Wonderful cassis, violets, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate notes define this beauty, and it's full-bodied, with a gorgeous sense of elegance and purity, perfect tannins, and an incredible finish. This stunningly majestic, flawlessly balanced Mountain Cabernet already offers pleasure yet will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and it should be a 50-year wine. Bravo!